No Cell Service? Stay Connected No Matter What With GoTenna

Very few things are more frustrating on a trip than being unable to reach members of your party when you need to. Let's face it, there aren't always towers for your wireless devices to latch on to when you need them most. Often times, just being in a big box store is enough to put the kibosh on communicating with others via your cell phone. Soon, all that will be a thing of the past with the new goTenna.

What's a goTenna? Well, as the name implies, it's an antenna for people on the go that can keep you connected virtually anywhere. The best part about the device is that no towers, routers or satellites are needed to bounce off of in order to use it. Even if Wi-Fi goes out or towers are down, you can use it to coordinate with others nearby — as long as they've got a goTenna and are within 0.5-6 miles, depending on terrain. It works via VHF radio waves.

The goTenna made its debut at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas in January, and it's set for distribution summer of 2015. The device is perfect for travelers, both in town and out. Whether you're out for a hike, touring a museum, sight seeing or even sailing, you'll be able to stay in touch. Anyone who's ever gotten separated on a trip knows how handy this could be.

If an emergency pops up, the device can also divert a possible disaster with its offline location sharing feature. This allows you to share locations and pins on detailed offline maps that can help you find your way when you need to. This could potentially be life saving.

The goTenna has already won six different awards, including the Consumer Electronics Show Editors' Choice 2015 and the Gear of the Show Award. It's compact and lightweight with a convenient snap strap for attaching it to almost anything. You can also send encrypted messages with it that aren't stored anywhere, making it safe and secure to use.

Sold in pairs and compatible with IOS and Android devices using Bluetooth, the company is currently taking orders for summer 2015 shipments — just in time for that vacation or trip you've been planning. At this time, the product is listing for $149.99 for two, but it will probably go down in price as competitors emerge in the marketplace.